photo of Where the Pavement Ends

Choctaw Country Destinations

By Amanda McCarty

Surviving the week can be a daunting task for anyone with an adventurous heart — especially as the endlessly blue June skies illuminate the blazing landscape of wildflowers and countless shades of green. We live for the freedom the weekend brings and the adventure that awaits beyond the city smoke and neon lights.

If you’re an off-roader, you understand the relief that comes as Friday releases the shackles of the workweek and you’re free to explore the world your way: on roads less traveled.

There are no lines here. No stop signs. No traffic jams, road rage or places to be. From riverbed to dusty dune, life beyond the pavement is lived by a different code. It’s a place where you’re free to pursue your childish curiosity and the rush of adrenaline that comes with ripping over rocks and hills on your ATV without a care in the world.

Whether you’re in a side-by-side or the lifted truck you’ve put all your spare time and money into, you build a relationship of trust and understanding with your vehicle. And as the unpaved arteries of the wilderness unfold the secrets of their paths under your tires, you’ll also build relationships with the people of this amazing community. People who share your passions and understand the love of sunburned hillsides and wind-torn hair. It’s a sacred community of pathfinders where knowledge is continuously exchanged, and answers are found to the questions Google can’t answer. These weekend explorers are the kind of friends you’ll keep for life.

Maybe you haven’t discovered your people yet, or the liberation that off-roading can bring. If you’re curious about this exciting way of life, or even if you’re just looking for some new places to explore, there are a few trails below to get you started. Whatever your passion, if you, too, have an adventurous heart, I challenge you to nurture your inner explorer. To seek out the road less traveled. To forever wander.

Bee Creek and Dyer Mountain Trail | Ouachita National Forest
About ten minutes north of Hochatown, the Bee Creek and Dyer Mountain Trail is just shy of 14 miles and offers scenic views and moderately challenging climbs. The trail winds through the terrain along the western edge of Broken Bow Lake and ends with a magical waterfall view near Cedar Creek Golf Course. It’s a great place to combine your love off-roading with other outdoor activities, with multiple stops for camping, hiking and swimming.

Pine Mountain Trails ATV Park | Rattan, OK
If you love rock-rambling in your ATV, Pine Mountain Trails ATV Park is the perfect getaway with over 1,700 acres laced with 70-plus miles of trail specifically designed for ATVs, side-by-sides and dirt bikes. If that sounds like more than you could possibly explore in one day, you’re right! Lucky for you, this ATV park also offers primitive camping and full hook-up RV sites with access to restrooms with showers as well as cabins for rent, so you can take all the time you need to get to know this corner of the Oklahoma wilderness. Be sure to ask about any special events that may be happening during your visit!

Big Fox Run Off-Road Park | Cameron, OK
On the eastern outskirts of Choctaw Country lies Big Fox Run, an ATV park with 400-plus miles of challenging terrain, including deep-water crossings, obstacle courses, mud pits and more. Guests are also welcome to bring their watercraft and explore the on-site lake or spend the night at one of the many campsites on the property. The park is open select weekends, so make sure you call ahead of time before heading out!